What Guitar?

[Revs_Addiction]

So, I'm looking to get an American Standard Strat; but before I press the button on one, I'd like to know if I'm missing out on something less obvious?!

Don't want to spend any more than I was planning on the strat, only other consideration is that I'm a leftie!

Cheers,

Andy.

[lockhart flawse]

What are you playing at the moment?

L.F.

[vit4]

Ibanez RG series? Everyone I know who's had one has agreed they're pretty much as versatile as guitars come. Know one guitarist who, after years of Gibsons, picked up an RG350 and has never looked back. Ignore the slightly metal image they're killer guitars.

[Kinky]

I'd personally suggest looking at the old Yamahas.

[Malam]

Revs_Addiction said:

So, I'm looking to get an American Standard Strat; but before I press the button on one, I'd like to know if I'm missing out on something less obvious?!

Don't want to spend any more than I was planning on the strat, only other consideration is that I'm a leftie!

Cheers,

Andy.

Look out for a secondhand Levinson Blade R4 or RH4 Classic. Better than any Fender built strat and much more versatile.

[bga]

G&L some great Strat style guitars & the brand is a bit less "mainstream"

[Guvna]

You can't go wrong with an American Strat. Great guitar. There is a good reason why it is probably the most widely used.

I would recommend going for a rosewood neck instead of maple because it sounds a bit warmer on a strat.

If you are going to be playing blues you might want to check out an american telecaster. Another fantastic guitar.

[Revs_Addiction]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm finding in really frustrating at the mo, as most shops have bugger all lefties in stock to try

Where is a good resource for 2nd hand guitars?

I currently play a les paul, and mostly rock music, but I'm into all sorts...

Another question:

Is an American standard worth the money over a Mexican or a Highway 1?

I'm not an especially good player at the mo, but I'm having lessons and improving fast. So whilst I may not appreciate the difference now, I don't want to be sitting here in 6 months wishing I'd spent the extra!

Cheers peeps!

[Guvna]

Revs_Addiction said:

Where is a good resource for 2nd hand guitars?

I currently play a les paul, and mostly rock music, but I'm into all sorts...

Another question:

Is an American standard worth the money over a Mexican or a Highway 1?

Ebay is the obvious choice for second hand guitars. Just be careful. I have a friend who purchased a guitar and when he got it he found that the neck was broken then fixed. Make sure you look through the sellers history and stay clear from guys who sell loads of second hand guitars because they can be dodgy.

Why are you looking for a new guitar if you have a Les Paul? Most people have more than one guitar because different types are better for different types of music or they are a gear head.

Is an American standard worth the money over a Mexican? Well thats like asking is a Ferrari better than a Audi. Both go as fast as you will ever need to go (in normal use), both look nice, but one has a better badge and is made better. An american strat won't make you play better or sound too different to a mexican but it is well made in comparison (not that the mexicans are bad) and it is nice to have a hard case and know your playing a proper strat.

My advice would be totally dependant on your cash really. Don't stretch the bank to get an American but if you have £800 lying around its worth it. It wont loose more than a couple of hundred quid if you want to sell it. Nothing wrong with the Mexicans though.

[dern]

Revs_Addiction said:

Is an American standard worth the money over a Mexican or a Highway 1?

Your best bet is to get yourself over to guitar village in farnham and try them out to see for yourself.

I bought a highway 1 strat and love it to bits.

[TVRMARKUB]

I have a Gibson Les paul Standard and a USA Fender Strat with a maple neck, both fantastic guitars and I've had em both for over 20 years,

totally different to play but both great, plus it's like having money in the bank as you won't lose money on either if you keep em.

[Evangelion]

Revs_Addiction said:

Is an American standard worth the money over a Mexican or a Highway 1?

Well you get what you pay for. Having said that I've got two Mexican Strats, a Classic 50's and a Classic 60's and they're both brilliant - probably slightly better than the standard models. Upgrade the pickups a little and you have a fine instrument; only difference with the American Standard is that it's a little 'updated' - a more modern trem, 22 frets instead of 21 etc.

Can't comment on the Highway One as I've not tried one. It has attracted some negative comments due to the narrow string spacing.

[Revs_Addiction]

Guvna said:

Revs_Addiction said:

Where is a good resource for 2nd hand guitars?

I currently play a les paul, and mostly rock music, but I'm into all sorts...

Another question:

Is an American standard worth the money over a Mexican or a Highway 1?

Ebay is the obvious choice for second hand guitars. Just be careful. I have a friend who purchased a guitar and when he got it he found that the neck was broken then fixed. Make sure you look through the sellers history and stay clear from guys who sell loads of second hand guitars because they can be dodgy.

Why are you looking for a new guitar if you have a Les Paul? Most people have more than one guitar because different types are better for different types of music or they are a gear head.

Is an American standard worth the money over a Mexican? Well thats like asking is a Ferrari better than a Audi. Both go as fast as you will ever need to go (in normal use), both look nice, but one has a better badge and is made better. An american strat won't make you play better or sound too different to a mexican but it is well made in comparison (not that the mexicans are bad) and it is nice to have a hard case and know your playing a proper strat.

My advice would be totally dependant on your cash really. Don't stretch the bank to get an American but if you have £800 lying around its worth it. It wont loose more than a couple of hundred quid if you want to sell it. Nothing wrong with the Mexicans though.

Thanks for all the info...

I'm after a new guitar as my LP is just a cheapie Epiphone one, and I fancy something different and higher quality...

Just back from my local guitar shop, (Guitar Village, Farnham - excellent!), and have crossed the highway 1 off the list. Not a fan of the satin finish I'm afraid.

So now:

- American Standard
- American Special (not sure if they do lefties)
- Mexican Re-Issue (not sure if they do lefties)
- Mexican Standard

- Or a 2nd hand one!

With regard to fretboards, I prefer the look of the maple, but the feel of the rosewood. Does that make sense? I wasn't a fan of the varnish/lacquer on the maple as it didn't feel, 'woody'!

[TVRMARKUB]

The reason I got a maple strat was because my Gibson is rosewood and I fancied a change, like it's been said above the rosewood neck has a warmer sound.

The Strat it easier to play and lighter more comfortable, better if technique is your thing.

The les paul is more a feel guitar feels part of me when I play it (though it's more cumbersome)

both very different but both great, I would think it's easier to go from the Gibson to the Fender as someone who has played strats for years might find the Gibson too cumbersome/heavy.

[johnnywas]

have had both,if i was you i would go for the strat as the gibson gets a bit heavy,the fender is a good guitar.

[JimCross]

Guvna said:

You can't go wrong with an American Strat. Great guitar. There is a good reason why it is probably the most widely used.

I beg to differ. Having tried quite a few American Strats, I'd say you can go very far wrong with them - I found the quality to be really variable. Best bet is to try quite a few then go for the one you like the best. I certainly wouldn't buy one without playing that specific guitar. Also, once you've got it make sure you get it set up properly - the factory setups are often awful (I saw a video of John Mayer trying out an SRV relic strat which is a custom shop model. His guitar tech, who used to be SRV's guitar tech, said the setup from the factory was really poor.)

I would also recommend trying some of the special edition strat models if you can stretch to them and find them. I love the sound of the John Mayer model - it's got a lovely, bright, scooped sound, quite like the Hendrix Monterey strat. Very bluesy.

[Revs_Addiction]

Well Everyone,

Thanks to some serious procrastinating on my part, and an amazing lack of available instruments, I've only just bought my new guitar!

I went for a Mexican in the end, candy apple red with a maple neck. Looks the business, and to my eyes at least, seems very well made.

I may upgrade the pick-ups one day, and when I do I'll have a guitar that sounds exactly like I want it to. It'll still owe me considerably less than an American one, so I feel I made the right call..

Rock on peeps!

[audidoody]

The Ernie Ball MusicMan Albert Lee model is the best 'Strat" ever made. About £1,500 brand new and about £850'ish used on the 'Bay.

Failing that I recommend searching for a "JV (Japanese Vintage) Squier Strat" made in Japan during 1982/1983.

The quality is what scared Fender into doing a deal with the Japanese copy factory. I found a Fiesta Red "1962 reissue" JV model on EBay about 18 months ago for £360.

It runs equal in quality to anything from the Fender Custom Shop and I felt particularly smug when I had the chance to compare it directly with a Yuri Shishkov Masterbuilt Strat that cost it's owner £4,000.

Google "JV Strat" for loads of information and how to buy.


EDIT: whoops, just noticed you've already pulled the trigger!

Edited by audidoody on Thursday 16th September 14:42

[audidoody]

The Ernie Ball MusicMan Albert Lee model is the best 'Strat" ever made. About £1,500 brand new and about £850'ish used on the 'Bay.

Failing that I recommend searching for a "JV (Japanese Vintage) Squier Strat" made in Japan during 1982/1983.

The quality is what scared Fender into doing a deal with the Japanese copy factory. I found a Fiesta Red "1962 reissue" JV model on EBay about 18 months ago for £360.

It runs equal in quality to anything from the Fender Custom Shop and I felt particularly smug when I had the chance to compare it directly with a Yuri Shishkov Masterbuilt Strat that cost it's owner £4,000.

Google "JV Strat" for loads of information and how to buy.


EDIT: whoops, just noticed you've already pulled the trigger!

Edited by audidoody on Thursday 16th September 14:45